Former Columbus College of Art & Design president Denny Griffith has died.
Griffith, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2014, was 63 years old.
CCAD Board of Trustees James Kunk wrote on the college website, “[Griffith] led the college through transformational change.” Kunk said Griffith also helped revolutionize Ohio’s art scene.
“He was a partner in the growth of the Ohio Arts Council, spent time at both the Akron Art Museum and the Columbus Museum of Art where he was a deputy director,” Kunk said.
“Most importantly, spent 16 glorious years turning CCAD into a vibrant and dynamic college of creative learning, supporting a passionate student body, encouraging a committed faculty that truly believes in the power of their students’ ideas, building engaged boards of trustees that were fully invested in the mission, and drawing on the community that supported CCAD so committedly.”
Griffith served as CCAD president from 1998 to 2014, when he retired.
Also a painter, Griffith's final show, “Another World,” opened at the CCAD Beeler Gallery on Jan. 8.
A behind the scenes look at Griffith's work for the exhibition was featured last week on WOSU TV's Broad & High. Watch the segment below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4YeUGeze9g